​Tennis ace and WWF global ambassador Andy Murray picks name for adopted pooch

Andy Murray has paid tribute to his fiancée by naming the companion of his sponsored sniffer dog in her honour.

The two dogs, Murray and Sears - named after his long-term girlfriend Kim Sears - have started work in Nepal as part of a WWF programme in the country's Chitwan province to tackle poaching and illegal wildlife trade.

Andy’s tribute to comes in the same month as the Botswana government hosts an international conference in Kasane on illegal wildlife trade.

The tennis ace and WWF global ambassador has been supporting the charity’s fight against poaching and illegal wildlife trade since November 2014.

Dogs love companionship and I hope this partnership will aid them as they work to tackle poaching in Nepal

Last year, WWF named one of the new puppies in the elite sniffer dog team in honour of Murray’s support for WWF’s wildlife crime initiative.

The British number one is particularly passionate about raising awareness for WWF’s initiative in Nepal that supports the use and training of dogs to track down poaching activity in and around Chitwan National Park.

Murray said: “I’m delighted to have the opportunity to name the companion of my namesake dog.

"Dogs love companionship and I hope this partnership will aid them, as they work to tackle poaching in Nepal.

“March is an important month in the fight against poaching with the Botswana government hosting an international conference on illegal wildlife trade so it’s great to be involved in WWF’s initiative during this pivotal moment.”

The two dogs have been through training together in a specialised training centre in India where they learnt to sniff out evidence of poaching and track routes used by poachers.

Murray and Sears now live together in Chitwan National Park with their dog handlers.